HoopsHype is reporting that the Clippers have inked Josh Powell to a three-year deal in the minimum salary range – something similar to what Quinton Ross got in 2004.

In locking up Josh Powell to a low-dollar/three-year deal, the Clippers get an active PF – the lighter Pacific Division edition -- with some upside. As discussed in the preceding post, Powell has a proverbial “nose for the ball,” and a consistent mid-range game. While he isn’t an expert post defender, he’s plenty tough and has the fundamentals to learn what he doesn't know. Away from the basket defensively, he’s quick, long, and athletic enough to provide weak side help and rotate out. Powell’s reputation in Oakland seemed to be of the James Singleton variety – a guy whose potential might have been undercut by his lack of playing time. In their season-end report cards, most of Golden State of Mind’s brain trust likes his “hustle” and “work ethic.”

Some might raise an eyebrow at giving an NBA suspect a three-year deal, but I think there’s little downside. Whether Elton returns for two months, two seasons, or a lifetime, the Clippers will need someone to back him up. Have you seen what passes for a backup power forward in the NBA these days? If Antonio McDyess isn’t on the roster, then you’re basically choosing between a banger who can’t score [Reggie Evans], cultivating a less-than-sure-thing prospect [Craig Smith], or making do with an overpaid oldster [P.J. Brown/Kenny Thomas]. Unless my team is a championship contender, I always prefer the energetic prospect.

It’s unlikely that Powell will initially see more than 10-15 minutes/game, but with a gaping hole at the power forward and only a vague sense of what kind of offense they’ll be running this year, the Clippers will give Powell opportunity to play himself into some serious minutes. Since they’re giving him three years, the Clips have every reason to want Powell to grow into a successful NBA player.

Posted Wednesday, October 29 at 3:20PM

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Comments

Yeah I could just see Reggie Evans in the shower with Kamen. Actually that's a great idea to sign him. Kamen would quit the team and they'd get rid of his contract. Next we could add Spreewell to choke Dunleavy and get rid of his contract.

The Los Angeles Clippers today took steps to add depth to the team’s backcourt with the signing of free agent guard Brevin Knight. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.

A ten-year NBA veteran, Knight averaged 9.1 points, 6.6 assists and 2.7 rebounds in 45 games played for the Charlotte Bobcats last season. Knight started his NBA career with Cleveland in 1997-98 and has also played for Atlanta, Memphis, Phoenix, Washington and Miami. In 581 career NBA games, Knight has averaged 8.3 points, 6.8 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.8 steals.

In making the announcement Clippers’ Vice President of Basketball Operations Elgin Baylor said: “Brevin is one of the better defensive point guards in the league. He’s also a gifted floor leader with a great assist-to-turnover ratio. We like that he is good at running the offense and that he always looks to get his teammates involved.”

A 5-10, 170 pound point guard, Knight was ranked eighth in the NBA last season with a 3.12 assists per turnover ratio. Knight averaged a career high 12.6 points and 34.1 minutes in 2005-06, the same year he ranked second in the NBA in steals (157). A member of the 1997-98 All-Rookie First Team while he was with the Cavaliers, Knight tied the NBA’s single-game high with eight steals against Orlando on March 24, 2005 while with the Bobcats.

The 16th overall selection in the 1997 NBA Draft by Cleveland, Knight enjoyed a successful career at Stanford University that saw him finish his collegiate career with averages of 14.9 points, 6.8 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 11 games. Knight was named to the Sporting News All-America First Team in 1997 and was the Naismith Award winner the same year.

Knight has reached the playoffs twice in his career, averaging 4.2 points, 3.4 assists and 2.2 rebounds in his postseason appearances with Cleveland (1998) and Milwaukee (2004).

Powell's an okay choice I guess. Sounds a little bit like Singleton, maybe more size on defense, more of banger, less of an athletic rebounder. Not sure what went wrong with the Singleton program, it may have just been a personality conflict after getting frustrated last year. But Singleton doesn't seem like a good stopgap for Brand, he's more of a guy who could take minutes from Tim Thomas, and let's hope that Powell can fill the Brand slot a little better.

So who's the starter? Davis? That would be my choice. It seems to leave a whole at backup center, but a Kaman-Davis-Thomas rotation would work, with minutes left over for Powell, Korolev, and Williams as needed.

What about Pietrus or Foyle? I know we don't what someone out there just for the sake of haveing 6-6 g/f or 6-10 F, but why not? Pietrus played well last season, and we definitely have a void that would allow Foyle some playing time. Maybe he'll finally live up to his potential as a top ten pick...

Trust me, as someone who lives in the Bay and has watched WAY too many Warrior games, the Clips should never, ever, even consider Foyle. The thought makes me shudder...His D is solid enough, but has NO athleticism, and averages more boards (5) than points (4) for his career. Plus he got paid a ridiculous amount of money for sitting on Golden State's bench last season, and will probably be looking for a similar amount.

Pietrus reminds me a little of Maggette; explosively athletic, good shooter (probably better than Maggs), but has a tendency to make awful decisions on offense. He can score the rock though, so if he's cheap I agree the Clippers should at least make an offer. Looks like offense will be scarce next year.

Why didn't we go after Foyle? 6'10" 270 we could have gotten him for the veteran min 1 mil??? Am I missing something here? Powell is a good prospect but he'll be like Singleton, never used when EB comes back. Foyle, we would have signed him for a 1 year deal? I must be missing something.

Does anyone know Maggette's personal email address or a fanclub site we can contact him at??? I wanna holla at him and talk some sh*t so he can work on his D&O GAME instead of his Delts and Triceps so he explodes in '07-'08!!! He's got so much to prove and so much to gain if he breaks out this year...

STEP UP YOUR GAME COREY!!!

We need at least 27-30ppg from you this year.

(I already emailed Cat and asked for 45% from beyond the arc this year)

I hate to break this to you all, but the Clips are in serious trouble this year without EB. Kaman's lack of an offensive or defensive game will be further exposed without EB's presence in the post. Both our PG's have a better chance of becoming fixtures in the training room than the actual court. And lastly, has everyone forgotten that MD is making the decisions around here ??? Dunleavy could not coach his way out of a paper bag, let alone lead this roster to more than 15-20 wins as presently assembled. The Clips are already playing for ping pong balls next Summer unless EB and Shaun somehow experiance some sort of special healing powers. Kaman and Dunleavy managing to remove their respective head's from the rears would help too. Shouting out to you, SOFO, put the donuts down and pick up the phone..the Clips need you badly.

Jeff T, you have your head in the sand if you think Paul Davis is a starter in the NBA. Same with T2 and Aaron Williams. Thornton is the only guy who may be able to consistently help the Clips this year, but he's under sized to play against most 4's in the West. Pairing him or any of these scrubs above with Kaman gives the Clips the worst defensive front court in the entire NBA. A complete disaster. With regards to the added points you speak of, it won't matter if everyone is able to score at will in the post on us.

"Still, however, it's early, and chances are an American will pull off the "legal goaltending" move before the Tournament of the Americas ends. Four years ago, it took eight games for someone to do it, Elton Brand finally pulling the move off by knocking Daniel Santiago's shot off the rim in a 36-point victory over Puerto Rico.

Get ready for some heavy zone defense. TW is correct about the interior defense. I'm not sure they are going to be the worst in the entire NBA, but they are certainly undersized. And Kaman is historically foul-prone. He's going to have to step it up bigtime.

On a positive note, if (big if here) Knight stays healthy he will help alot on both the offensive (pg) end and defensive end.

Excellent point about the D J-Smooth and TW. But what do the Clips have to loose? If they rebound better and have more assits they could pull it off with the Play Big and Slow. Isolate Corey on any 2 in the league and watch him march to the free throw line and possibily end up scoring 28pts/gm. I'm telling you all this could the Cinderella team of 07/08.